Early childhood care and education policy intentions and the realities in rural areas
Early Childhood Development (ECD) policies are primary determinants in the provision of quality early childhood development outcomes. Healthy and safe environments play a critical role in enhancing children’s care and development. This is even more critical for children living in marginalised commu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of the Free State
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Perspectives in Education |
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| Online Access: | http://196.255.246.28/index.php/pie/article/view/6741 |
| _version_ | 1797258059346608128 |
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| author | Tuelo Nelly Matjokana |
| author_facet | Tuelo Nelly Matjokana |
| author_sort | Tuelo Nelly Matjokana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Early Childhood Development (ECD) policies are primary determinants in the provision of quality early childhood development outcomes. Healthy and safe environments play a critical role in enhancing children’s care and development. This is even more critical for children living in marginalised communities to develop foundational knowledge and thrive beyond their primary years. However, ECD practitioners in rural areas are faced with a severe lack of basic health facilities, care and learning resources. Regardless of this, education and care at these rural ECD centres are expected to continue. Young children are progressed from these inadequate ECD centres to formal schooling for enrolment in Grade R with limited foundational knowledge. The study intended to look into ECD policies and challenges faced by the under-resourced ECD centres whose mandate is to provide quality learning opportunities for young children. The research applied a qualitative approach within an interpretivist paradigm. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews, writing field notes, observations and photographs. Three (3) education officials, two (2) ECD managers and four (4) practitioners were purposefully sampled. The study found that unregistered ECD centres in rural areas do not have the basic resources required to provide children with foundational knowledge. The findings recommend that ECD practitioners at these centres should be empowered and upskilled in the registration processes to access quality programmes, infrastructure, water and sanitation facilities. This will ensure that young children are provided with a safe and secure learning environment to enhance development opportunities.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:47:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-11010869e1814b79b30daec0ec8ca3ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0258-2236 2519-593X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:47:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | University of the Free State |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Perspectives in Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-11010869e1814b79b30daec0ec8ca3ce2024-03-18T11:08:51ZengUniversity of the Free StatePerspectives in Education0258-22362519-593X2023-06-0141210.38140/pie.v41i2.6741Early childhood care and education policy intentions and the realities in rural areasTuelo Nelly Matjokana0University of Pretoria, South Africa Early Childhood Development (ECD) policies are primary determinants in the provision of quality early childhood development outcomes. Healthy and safe environments play a critical role in enhancing children’s care and development. This is even more critical for children living in marginalised communities to develop foundational knowledge and thrive beyond their primary years. However, ECD practitioners in rural areas are faced with a severe lack of basic health facilities, care and learning resources. Regardless of this, education and care at these rural ECD centres are expected to continue. Young children are progressed from these inadequate ECD centres to formal schooling for enrolment in Grade R with limited foundational knowledge. The study intended to look into ECD policies and challenges faced by the under-resourced ECD centres whose mandate is to provide quality learning opportunities for young children. The research applied a qualitative approach within an interpretivist paradigm. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews, writing field notes, observations and photographs. Three (3) education officials, two (2) ECD managers and four (4) practitioners were purposefully sampled. The study found that unregistered ECD centres in rural areas do not have the basic resources required to provide children with foundational knowledge. The findings recommend that ECD practitioners at these centres should be empowered and upskilled in the registration processes to access quality programmes, infrastructure, water and sanitation facilities. This will ensure that young children are provided with a safe and secure learning environment to enhance development opportunities. http://196.255.246.28/index.php/pie/article/view/6741Early Childhood Care and Educationearly childhood policiesinfrastructureregistration |
| spellingShingle | Tuelo Nelly Matjokana Early childhood care and education policy intentions and the realities in rural areas Perspectives in Education Early Childhood Care and Education early childhood policies infrastructure registration |
| title | Early childhood care and education policy intentions and the realities in rural areas |
| title_full | Early childhood care and education policy intentions and the realities in rural areas |
| title_fullStr | Early childhood care and education policy intentions and the realities in rural areas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Early childhood care and education policy intentions and the realities in rural areas |
| title_short | Early childhood care and education policy intentions and the realities in rural areas |
| title_sort | early childhood care and education policy intentions and the realities in rural areas |
| topic | Early Childhood Care and Education early childhood policies infrastructure registration |
| url | http://196.255.246.28/index.php/pie/article/view/6741 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tuelonellymatjokana earlychildhoodcareandeducationpolicyintentionsandtherealitiesinruralareas |